Category: FNGLA

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FNGLA IFAS University of Florida

Don’t Feed Your Weeds

Topdressing with fertilizer is a bad idea. Sub-dressing is superior.

This idea was demonstrated clearly at the Mid-Florida Research and Education Center this week. Dr. Chris Marble, weed specialist, showed us many trials with pre-emergent herbicides and how various mulches affected weed growth. He concluded by showing how fertilizer placement makes weed growth worse.

Various ways to apply slow release fertilizer to potted plants

The traditional way to apply slow release fertilizer is by sprinkling it on the surface of the soil. But some is lost by sunlight degradation and more can be lost by heavy rains. Another problem is that it feeds weeds and encourages their growth.

Fertilizer 3″ deep fed the crop but not the weeds.

So, a wiser way to apply fertilizer is to fill the pot about half way up with soil, apply fertilizer, then fill the pot the rest of the way, then plant the new plant. The new plants roots will come in contact with the fertile area but the nutrients are out of reach of any weed seedlings.

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Flower Trials FNGLA

Immersed in Color

The Florida Flower Trials were a beautiful learning experience. On Wednesday, May 15th, we started at the Orange County Cooperative Extension office in Orlando.

Surrounding the bedding plant trials were many other gardens;

Guest speakers continued to inspire and educate landscapers, growers and retailers;

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FNGLA trade shows

Tropical Plant Industry Exhibit 2019

Once a year, for three days in January, people from around the nation visit Fort Lauderdale, Florida to see the natural beauty produced by local greenhouse and nursery growers. Over 200 vendors display their best under one roof for a tropical extravaganza.

  • Ever had a lamp make you smile?
  • This vendor supplied their own light system to best display the bloom colors.
  • Fragrant roses, dwarf Periwinkle/Vinca.
  • Floral designers having fun with Pop art and tillandsias.
  • Clever use of a closet shoe storage.
  • New African violets ready to ship.
  • Sorry, these leaves are silk.
  • We can import plants from other countries but they must not contain soil. These don’t even have roots yet.
  • A new, dwarf Paspalum grass that tolerates salt water.
  • No leaf shine here: This orange Anthurium is naturally glossy.
  • Hand-shaped Sansevierias ready to root.
  • Succulents artistically arranged.
  • Many variations on the Ti plant theme.
  • Cut flowers of Peonies (not from around here but showing how they ship them)
  • Asclepias ‘Hairy Balls’.
  • A new way to display an old orchid: Bend the stems down.
  • Orchid blooms arranged.
  • Fashion fun: Plant head.
  • Close up of Botanical Betty’s head.
  • Wreath-like arrangement of Tillandsias.
  • In the new plant room, a new Aglaonema.
  • Strong variegation on this new Dracaena.
  • Calathea ‘Network’.
  • Old retail slogan; “Stack ’em high, make ’em fly.”
  • Green walls don’t need to be all plants. Wood, stone, and moss.
  • The few minutes I stood here, every person that approached this wall ran their hands across the textured bark.
  • Amaryllis drama.
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Fish Branch Tree Farm Florida palms FNGLA

Trees on the Go

November 29, 2018

Fish Branch Tree Farms in Zolfo Springs hosted the Trees on the Go educational seminar in partnership with FNGLA, Roots Plus Growers and ASLA Florida. Their nursery is a model tree farm emphasizing quality and consistency. 

Speakers: Dr. Ed Gilman (U.F. Professor Emeritus) on the state of the urban forest and early tree root training, John Conroy, owner of Fish Branch, about Grades and Standards, Lloyd Morgan about ideal handling and shipping of large trees, Joe Samnik, about legal issues regarding contracts/specifications (how not to get sued for negligence), Russell Adams about mass planting palms in difficult situations (Orlando highway sides), Mike Marshall, Marshall Tree Farms demonstrating grading trees and discussing the future of tree supply/demand.

Here is a link to the Florida Grades and Standards:  https://www.freshfromflorida.com/Divisions-Offices/Plant-Industry/Business-Services/Florida-Grades-and-Standards-for-Nursery-Plants-2015

  • Flanked by Mule palms.
  • Dr. Ed Gilman addressing urban tree challenges.
  • Mike Marshall teaching how to grade a tree: Florida Fancy, #1 or #2.
  • LLoyd Morgan showing proper tree handling and protection.
  • Uniformity on display. Live Oaks.
  • Dr. Gilman showing good roots versus defective roots and how they are formed.
  • New pots that air root-prune to form a dense, fibrous system.
  • Elle pots made of paper that also encourage a fibrous root system.
  • These tree roots were grown in a typical plastic pot that forced the roots to grow in circles: Defective!
  • These lower branches contribute to a thicker stem (caliper) that will be removed before shipping.
  • These young oaks are selected, then directed to create the best shade tree…five to seven years down the road.
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FNGLA trade shows

The Landscape Show, Orlando

I am a sucker for variegated plants. Long ago, when a gardener or plant breeder found a plant with white streaks or spots in it’s leaves, it was discarded as weak and inferior to it’s green-leafed parent. But, color sells and anything-but-green leaves turn heads. Also, a plant with less chlorophyll in it’s leaves tends to grow slower, driving up it’s price and demand.

Here are a few of the variegated leafed plants that stood out at this years Landscape Show held by the Florida Nursery Grower Landscape Association (FNGLA) in Orlando.

‘Roman Candle’ Podocarpus.
Variegated Kumquat tree.
‘Candy Cane’ heliconia.
‘America’ aechmea bromeliad with other variegated neoreglias.
Chalk-like leaves of Alcantarea.
Earth Stars: ‘Absolute Zero’.
‘Ice’ Vriesea.
Variegated Fish Tail palm.
Yes, variegated is more than just green and white.
Bullis Bromeliads created a spectacular bromeliad tree.

 

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FNGLA

FNGLA Annual Convention, 2018

Today wrapped up the Florida Nursery Grower Landscape Association’s annual convention. Awards were presented, speeches were given, donations were made, and the new Board of Directors are now voted in.
President Ed Bravo selected the Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort in Bonita Springs as the host hotel and the surroundings were beautiful.

Sunrise, before the fountains turn on.
Huge paintings throughout the halls with water themes.
In the Biz Zone there were several companies promoting new products. Here is a dwarf St. Augustine called ‘Pro Vista’.
Dwarfed hibiscus grown by Aris in nearby Alva.
Too good to be real. I’m a little puzzled why this artificial turf had sprinklers.
Attendees filing in before the meeting.
Ed Bravo at his last meeting as President, along with Ben Bolusky, Executive Director, FNGLA.
Nice planters at the entrance.

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FNGLA Tours

Orange County Extension Office

While visiting the Florida Flower trials in Orlando we enjoyed the many gardens at the Extension office: Formal, vegetable, pollinator, wet/rain, dry, and native.

 

 

 

Agapanthus, Blue Lily of the Nile. Right on time for a summer bloomer.
In the pollinator garden, homes for insects.
Old-fashioned Balsam, the grand daddy of today’s impatiens.
Florida native Butterfly Weed, Asclepias.
Prickly critter: Rattlesnake Master, Erygium.
Big, bold pot surrounded by tricolor Asian Jasmine ‘Sunset’.
Black Eyed Susan, Rudbeckia hirta.
Blanket flower, Gaillardia.
Maximum vegetables, minimum space. Swiss chard and leaf lettuce tower.
White Milkweed, Asclepias perennis.

 

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florida gardening Flower Trials FNGLA Tours

Harry P. Leu Gardens, Orlando

While at the Flower Trials we had time to wander throughout the 40+ acre gardens.

The main hallway is an art gallery. Water color by Anne Pullin ‘A Promise of Spring”.
Kampheria or Peacock Ginger.
A cardinal flew out of this little bush. He was attracted to the berries of this dwarf Acerola.
Fruit of the dwarf Acerola.
Purple Verbena bonariensis near the pollinator garden.
A green mist: Fennel next to cabbages and Brussels sprouts.
Gulf Fritillary feeding on a Passion Vine flower.
Flowers on a bauhina tree.
Massive flower clock planted with dwarf zinnias.
Amazing what white Caladium leaves do to a shady spot.
Whorled leaves of the Bird’s Nest Fern.
The rose garden was in top shape: ‘Summer Romance’ floribunda.

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florida gardening Flower Trials FNGLA

Florida Flower Trials 2018

Two days, three locations and thousands of flowers. Once a year in May the Florida Nursery Grower Association sponsors the Florida Flower Trails. The purpose is to show industry professionals some new and improved flowering plants by breeders from around the world.  (Some introductions were from the Neatherlands and Australia).

The three trial grounds: U.F. Cooperative Extension office Orange County, Harry P. Leu Gardens. and Walt Disney World’s nursery.

Nemesia ‘Nesia Sunshine’.
Marigold ‘Super Hero Yellow Bee’.
Caladium ‘Heart and Soul’.
Dwarf, double Zinnia ‘Zahara Bright Orange’.
Coleus ‘Main Street’ is mostly a foliage plant but these flowers compliment the rustic fence.
Gerbera daisy ‘Garvinea Sweet Fiesta’.
Gerbera daisy ‘Garvinea Sweet Sunset’.
Nothing new here but the pollinator garden at Leu Gardens. Passion flower with Gulf Fritillary butterfly.
New to me: Fire bush ‘Lime Sizzler’.
Floral clock at Leu Gardens installed in 1971.
Caladium ‘Glowing Heart’.
Caladium ‘Bottle Rocket’.
Caladium ‘Mellow Yellow’ will brighten up any dark, shady place.
‘SunPatiens’ showing vigorous landscape performance.
Brilliant use of complimentary colors. Yellow coleus backing Verbena ‘Empress Sun Violet’.
Instead of a bed of flowers, a collection of pots with flowers for many dimensions of color (Sea World).
Warm colored pots and plants for a sunny summer day.
Strong contrast immediately draws your eyes to this geranium basket.
‘Joseph’s Coat’ amaranthus as ice cream.
Caladium ‘Tickle Me Pink’.
How about a 4′ Salvia bush? Pollinators love it!
Dwarf, double Zinnias ‘Zahara’.
How about an orange-scented Lemon Balm ‘Mandarina’?
Most memorable plant: Dwarf marigold ‘Drop Shot’ because the foliage tasted like black licorice.
The Flower Trial beds at Walt Disney World nursery.

 

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FNGLA trade shows

The Landscape Show Redux.

Marigolds and Coleus pillar.

As a vendor/exhibitor, we were very happy with the attendance at the 2017 Landscape Show in Orlando last week. Originally scheduled for September, the show was blown off course by hurricane Irma. Many vendors were not able to reschedule their participation but, despite fewer booths, there were plenty of attendees.

Mast Trees
Pony Tail Palm with 7′ diameter base.
Big, beautiful Phoenix palms brought in by crane.
Olive trees.
Massive driftwood: Florida Cedar.
Marigolds and Coleus pillar.
New to me: Pavonia multiflora or Many Flowers.
A variegated Simpson’s Stopper ‘Stoppermorph’.
Talking to Ryan, owner of Two Tired Landscaping.